Container Inspection Types and the Documentation Each One Requires
Every container inspection produces evidence — or it doesn't. ConPDS is the photo documentation layer that turns each inspection type into a structured, container-linked, audit-ready record.
A reference guide to the main container inspection types — pre-trip, gate-in, on-hire, off-hire, lease return, M&R, wash, and ISO tank — and the photo documentation each inspection type requires for claims, audits, and compliance.
Container inspection types are the distinct inspection categories carried out across the container lifecycle — including pre-trip inspection (PTI), gate-in and gate-out inspection, on-hire and off-hire inspection, lease return inspection, M&R (maintenance and repair) inspection, wash inspection, and ISO tank cleaning and visual inspection. Each inspection type has a different purpose, a different physical scope, and a different photo documentation requirement — but every inspection type produces evidence that may need to be retrieved months or years later for a claim, audit, or dispute.
ConPDS is a container inspection photo documentation platform that captures, organises, and distributes structured photo records for container depots, reefer technicians, wash stations, and stuffing operations — linked to container numbers, fully offline-capable, and built for compliance and claims support. ConPDS does not perform the inspection itself — surveyors, depot technicians, and reefer engineers continue to do that. ConPDS is the structured evidence layer that supports every inspection type with photo documentation that is container-linked, ISO 6346 validated, timestamped, and fully audit-ready.
Distinct photo set enforced per inspection type at the point of capture
Container numbers verified against ISO 6346 standards before any photo is saved
Centralised archive searchable by container number across every inspection type
Rule-based automated distribution to shipping lines, leasing companies, and asset owners
Why Container Inspection Types Need Documentation Standards That Match Them
All of these inspection categories produce photo evidence — but most depots, reefer workshops, and wash stations capture that evidence informally. A depot processing 80 containers per day generates 480+ inspection images daily. Without a structured, container-linked record per inspection event, retrieval failure is statistically inevitable.
What Manual Documentation Looks Like
Gate-in photos in WhatsApp threads, email attachments, and shared folders
PTI records on personal devices — lost when the technician leaves
Lease return photos with no timestamp or GPS metadata after WhatsApp compression
Wash before-and-after photos that cannot be matched to the cleaning certificate
Repair claim evidence filed under inconsistent container number formats
The Operational Cost
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Disputed claims with no defensible evidence
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Records unfindable months after inspection
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No chain-of-custody between inspection types
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Audit gaps with no continuous trail
With manual methods, a damage claim raised six months after inspection collapses because the gate-in, repair, and gate-out photo sets cannot be linked together as a continuous record. With structured container operational evidence, every inspection type — across the full container lifecycle — is captured against the same validated container number, retrievable in seconds, and presentable as a complete, timestamped chain of evidence.
How Container Inspection Documentation Works Across All Inspection Types
A single, consistent documentation workflow applies to all of the categories above. The inspection scope changes; the documentation discipline does not.
01
Select Inspection Type
02
Validate Against ISO 6346
03
Capture & Sync
04
Distribute & Audit
STEP 01
Identify the Inspection Type and Trigger the Correct Photo Set
Field technicians select the inspection type — gate-in, gate-out, pre-trip, lease return, M&R, wash, or ISO tank — in the ConPDS Checker mobile app. The required photo set for that inspection type is enforced before capture, so no required image is missed and no inspection is filed incomplete.
STEP 02
Validate the Container Number Against ISO 6346 Standards
AI-powered OCR reads the container number at capture and validates it against ISO 6346 standards (owner code, serial number, and check digit validation). Records with invalid codes are rejected at source rather than surfacing as a misfiled record in a later claim review.
STEP 03
Capture, Annotate, and Sync the Inspection Record
Photos, short video clips, and notes are captured against the validated container record. The ConPDS Checker app operates fully offline — records sync automatically once connectivity is restored, with GPS and timestamp metadata preserved from the moment of inspection.
STEP 04
Distribute the Record and Log Every Action in the Audit Trail
Rule-based automated distribution dispatches the completed inspection record to defined recipients via email, FTP, SFTP, or API. External parties access records through the ConPDS guest portal — a secure, simplified login scoped only to the container records they have been granted permission to view. Every distribution event and every guest access action is logged in the audit trail.
The Main Container Inspection Types and What Each One Documents
Each container inspection type has a distinct scope and a distinct photo documentation requirement. The same ConPDS workflow supports all of them — the inspection type determines which photo set is enforced. The required set is captured via the ConPDS Checker mobile app — no manual renaming, no metadata loss, no records lost on a personal device.
Pre-Trip · PTI
Pre-Trip Inspection (PTI)
Carried out before a container — particularly a reefer — is loaded for transport
Unit overall condition, identification, and operational readiness
Defects identified during the PTI captured in close-up
Replaced parts with serial numbers for warranty
Post-repair condition confirmation
Gate Operations
Gate-In and Gate-Out Inspection
Container condition documented at arrival and departure
Six-side exterior set linked to the EIR at gate-in
Container number and ISO code via OCR
Pre-existing damage close-ups
Gate-out condition for a clear before-and-after
Lease Lifecycle
On-Hire and Off-Hire Inspection
Container condition at the start and end of a lease
Full exterior and interior condition at on-hire
Identifying markings and CSC plate visibility
Off-hire damage and wear documentation
Timestamp and GPS metadata preserved
Lease Return
Lease Return Inspection
Conducted when a leased container is returned to the depot
Complete exterior and interior condition record
Damage close-ups with location and extent
Distributable directly to the leasing company
Container-linked timestamp and technician identity
M&R
Maintenance & Repair Inspection
Pre- and post-repair documentation supporting the repair estimate
Pre-repair damage photos in close-up
Spare part serial number capture
Post-repair condition confirmation
Attached to the repair estimate for claim submission
Full post-cleaning photo set linked to tank number
Cargo Movement
Stuffing and Unstuffing Inspection
Pre-stuffing condition and arrival condition for cargo loading and devanning
Pre-stuffing interior and exterior baseline
Cargo loading, stacking, and lashing
Seal number captured and linked to the record
Arrival condition before unstuffing begins
Manual Methods vs. Structured Container Inspection Documentation
Documentation discipline is what separates the same physical inspection from a defensible record. The same five scenarios show up across every depot we work with.
Inspection Scenario
Manual Method
Structured Documentation
Gate-in damage record
Six-side photos taken on personal phone, sent in a WhatsApp thread
Six-side set OCR-linked to the container number with EIR reference and GPS metadata
PTI replaced part
Serial number photographed but filed under an inconsistent name in a shared folder
Spare part photo with serial number linked to the reefer unit record and ready to push to AEMS
Lease return condition
Photos compressed by chat upload — timestamp and location metadata stripped
Timestamp, GPS, and technician identity preserved at capture; record retained centrally
Wash certificate evidence
Before-and-after images stored on technician's device, no link to the certificate
Before-and-after photo set linked to container number, downloadable to attach to the certificate
Six-month-old claim retrieval
Records cannot be located — depot carries the cost it cannot disprove
Full container history retrieved by container number in seconds, claim resolved with evidence
What Structured Documentation Delivers Across Every Container Inspection Type
The same operational gains apply whether the inspection is a 30-second gate-in or a multi-step ISO tank cleaning verification.
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AI-Powered Container Number Recognition
AI-based OCR reads container numbers at capture and validates them against ISO 6346 standards — eliminating the manual entry errors that scatter records across inspection types.
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Fully Offline-Capable Across All Inspection Types
OCR, capture, and container linking all run without an internet connection. Photos sync automatically on reconnection — operational in container yards, terminal areas, and remote depot zones.
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One Container, One Searchable History
Every inspection type — PTI, gate-in, lease return, M&R, wash — builds the same container's permanent visual history. Find any inspection record by container number in seconds.
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Connects to DMS and M&R Systems
Integrates with existing Depot Management Systems (DMS) and Maintenance & Repair systems via REST API, FTP, SFTP, and email — the photo evidence layer your current stack is missing.
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Rule-Based Automated Distribution
ConPDS rule-based distribution dispatches inspection records to defined recipients — shipping lines, leasing companies, agents — immediately after each inspection event, with every dispatch logged.
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Eliminates up to 10 Manual Steps Per Photo
Cropping, compressing, renaming, associating, uploading, and reformatting all happen automatically — what used to take minutes per image now happens in a single tap.
ISO 6346 ValidationGDPR Compliant256-bit HTTPSRole-Based AccessContinuous Audit TrailEIR Reference Linking
Compliance That Holds Across the Full Inspection Catalogue
Every photo capture, distribution event, and access action is timestamped and logged automatically. GPS location and capture timestamp are preserved from the moment of inspection through to the central archive.
Container numbers validated against ISO 6346 standards (owner code, serial number, and check digit) at capture — invalid codes rejected at source
Continuous audit trail recording every photo capture, every distribution event, and every guest portal access — locked against modification
GDPR compliant throughout — encrypted on-device, encrypted in transit, encrypted at rest; configurable retention; no inspection data on personal devices after upload
Role-based access controls assigning specific permissions per user across the entire organisation — from depot floor to enterprise administrator
External party access through a scoped guest portal — shipping lines and leasing companies see only the container records they have been granted permission to view
Frequently Asked Questions About Container Inspection Types
What are the main container inspection types? ▾
The main container inspection types are pre-trip inspection (PTI), gate-in and gate-out inspection, on-hire and off-hire inspection, lease return inspection, M&R (maintenance and repair) inspection, container wash inspection, and ISO tank cleaning and visual inspection. Each inspection type has a distinct purpose and a distinct set of photo documentation requirements.
Does ConPDS replace a container surveyor or inspection service? ▾
No. ConPDS is the photo documentation layer that captures, validates, and distributes the visual evidence produced during any container inspection. Surveyors, depot technicians, and reefer engineers continue to perform the inspection — ConPDS structures the photo record so it is container-linked, timestamped, and audit-ready.
Does container inspection documentation software work offline? ▾
Yes. ConPDS Checker is fully offline-capable — AI-powered OCR, container number validation, and photo capture all run on-device without an internet connection. Records sync automatically once connectivity is restored, with GPS and timestamp metadata preserved from the moment of capture.
How is inspection data secured and is it GDPR compliant? ▾
Yes. Photos are encrypted on-device, transferred over 256-bit HTTPS, and stored with role-based access controls and configurable retention periods. Every photo capture, distribution event, and access action is logged in the audit trail — fully GDPR compliant throughout.
What photos are required at container gate-in? ▾
A standard gate-in photo set covers all six exterior sides of the container, the container number and ISO code, any visible damage in close-up, and the trucker and vehicle reference for Equipment Interchange Receipt (EIR) matching. ConPDS enforces the required set at capture so no image is missed.
How does inspection photo documentation differ between PTI and lease return? ▾
Reefer PTI documentation focuses on unit performance, defect close-ups, replaced parts with serial numbers, and post-repair condition. Lease return documentation focuses on full exterior and interior condition at handover — establishing the container's condition at the end of the lease as a defensible, timestamped record. Both are linked to the container number and stored in the same archive.
Why are structured inspection records better than manual photo folders? ▾
Manual photos are easily lost, compressed, or misfiled — and metadata is often stripped during transfer. Structured records are container-linked, ISO 6346 validated, timestamped, and retrievable in seconds, with every capture, distribution, and access event logged in the audit trail.
Related Resources
Explore the vertical pages and authority articles that cover specific container inspection types in more operational detail.
Bring Documentation Discipline to Every Container Inspection Type
Whether the inspection is a 30-second gate-in or a multi-step ISO tank cleaning verification, the documentation requirement is the same: container-linked, timestamped, audit-ready evidence. Without it, the operational risk compounds with every shift.
What Happens Without Structured Inspection Documentation
✗Cross-inspection chain broken. A damage claim spans gate-in, repair, and gate-out — but the records sit in three different systems and cannot be reconstructed as a continuous chain of evidence.
✗Lease return dispute unresolvable. The lessee claims damage was pre-existing and the depot cannot produce the on-hire condition record — the cost falls on the depot.
✗PTI warranty rejected. A replaced reefer part fails and the warranty claim is denied because the serial number photo was filed against the wrong container record.
✗Wash certificate challenged. A cleaning certificate is issued but carries no supporting photo evidence — the certificate is treated as a statement, not proof.
✗Audit gap exposed. A compliance review asks for the inspection trail across a fleet — and the depot cannot demonstrate what was inspected, when, or by whom.
